Beach Pavilion

What were the circumstances of receiving the commission for this project?

The clients selected us based on our response to the site and building program, along with our history. They allowed us time to explore the potential and opportunities of the site.

The clients placed a high value on design and quality from the beginning. They believed that design as a function adds value to any undertaking. This did not make them "easy" clients because they had honed skills of questioning both function and aesthetics, looking for their meeting place.

Can you describe your design process for the building?

The clients wanted to maximize the use and investment in a small non-conforming lot on Goose Rocks Beach in Kennebunkport, Maine.

Local zoning codes and the Maine Department of Environmental Protection heavily regulate new construction in the frontal dune zone. The lot coverage was limited to 20% of the lot area, leaving 933sf of surface that could be used for building and any other impervious surface. Frontal dune regulations required that the lowest part of the structure be elevated 3 feet above the highest grade, and local zoning stated that the building not exceed a height of thirty feet. In order to make a viable 2-1/2 story structure, we designed an exposed steel-tube frame with a floor section of 2-1/4-inch-thick structural wood decking, allowing for three full-height levels.

To the east of the pavilion is public access to the beach. On that side of the building windows are raised in a clerestory fashion to provide privacy. The south glass wall has layers of shading to provide privacy along with shade. The angled window on the second floor gives the bunkroom equal views of the beach and Timber Island in the distance.

How does the building compare to other projects in your office, be it the same or other building types?

The same level of detailing that we strive for in all our work is exemplified in the pavilion. We begin design by addressing the Maine climate, solar orientation, site, views, and the client's brief. Although many factors remain the same (climate), the locations and sites where we have built in Maine have amazing variety, from fjord, to island, to river, to sandy beach.

How does the building relate to contemporary architectural trends, be it sustainability, technology, etc.?

The Beach Pavilion incorporates passive solar heating, non-toxic, non-VOC-emitting materials and finishes, and smart house technology, resulting in very low energy use. The structural frame was partially assembled at the steel fabricator and arrived as a series of bents that were erected and welded on site.

Are there any new/upcoming projects in your office that this building’s design and construction has influenced?

On the abutting site to the west of the pavilion we are designing the new primary residence for the same clients. Construction will begin in the fall. From the beginning, the two structures were designed together to establish a parti for the site and a program for use. Construction was intentionally broken into two phases. Not surprisingly, the design and construction of the pavilion has influenced our design and detailing of the house. Both are very similar, with identical structure and material palettes. The differences are in use and scale, with the pavilion serving utilitarian, office, and guesthouse purposes and the house serving as primary residence. The structures are siblings; side by side they define a private outdoor space between.

How would you describe the architecture of Maine and how does the building relate to it?

Maine architecture is conservative. Tradition runs deep in this state and Goose Rocks Beach is no exception. In fact, both before and after the pavilion was completed, the town attempted to amend the building code to outlaw “flat-roofed” buildings. Undeniably, response to the pavilion has been varied, with many questioning its presence within the traditional community of homes along the beach. This sort of reaction is no stranger to our work in Maine. However, it is our hope that, though the pavilion may be criticized now, in time, it will be loved. As it stands, the forward thinking clients are happy in their new pavilion on the beach and look forward to the completion of the house. Furthermore, the Beach Pavilion won AIA New England and AIA Maine design awards in 2012. Without the client’s commitment to quality in design and leap of faith under such community constraints, the pavilion would not have been possible. The clients are to be commended for promoting and for elevating the standards of design in an area where such thoughts are unpopular.

Email interview conducted by John Hill.